Railwatch 069 - October 1996

North West

By Robert Cummings

Burscough Setback The long-running campaign to restore Burscough Curves, and thus provide a direct service between Preston and Southport, was set back recently when a pre-feasibility study found the benefits would not sufficiently exceed the capital cost. Has this ever hampered a road scheme? Lancashire County Council had previously considered this reopening in 1988 when the capital costs were around£1 million. Eight years on, in the brave new world of the privatised railway, the cost had miraculously increased to at least £6.5 million!

The study considered a range of options and service patterns, but none provided sufficient return to allow the scheme to proceed. Taking account of the possibility of a change in circumstances, Lancashire County Council has agreed to continue the protected status afforded to the alignments in the draft structure plan for the area. One of the reasons given for the massive increase in costs was extending the recently introduced Merseyrail Integrated Electronic Control area to Burscough. It is amazing to think that such a modern electronic installation does not have the flexibility to easily accomodate such an extension!

Cycle ride Next year's RDS sponsored bike ride will probably be from Preston to Southport to attract media attention to this deserving project. We hope as many people as possible will take part in this event.

Cash back Manchester Passenger Transport Authority is expected to resume support for the local rail network. This subject has been a permanent feature of this column ever since the misguided councillors of Greater Manchester voted to withdraw from the Section 20 agreement, providing financial support for rail services in the region. Now they have received an ultimatum from the Government - come back into the fold or stay out in the cold for at least seven years (the life of the franchise of the operators serving Greater Manchester). Unofficial reports suggest the authority will elect to return to a Section 20 agreement, or something similar. Thankfully no lasting damage has been done to the network since the Franchise Director took control last April.

Franchise Director's Cuts The branch has been responding to the passenger service requirements (PSR) laid out by the Franchise Director for train operating units which serve the North-West. In common with those in other regions of the country the PSRs provide a lower level of service than is "enjoyed" by users at the moment - one of the dubious benefits of privatisation. As well as calling for a PSR which reflects current service levels, we have also suggested a requirement for operators to provide services on Boxing Day, surely one of the busiest days of the year for travel, and an increase on the seven days notice for planned engineering works which is unfair on the travelling public, particularly those holding Apex and Superapex tickets.

Users Unite The stopping service between Manchester and Warrington is a dog's dinner. Since the introduction of a limited stop service between Manchester Airport, Manchester and Liverpool in May 1995, lack of line capacity has meant that the existing hourly Manchester-Warrington service terminated at Irlam, with two stations being served by alternate services because of time constraints, and stations beyond Irlam served by the airport train. This compromise clearly satisfies neither the newly arrived airport passengers seeking a fast train to Liverpool, nor local passengers' requirements for a regular and reliable all-stations service! These problems could easily be overcome if finance was available to construct passing loops on this very busy route. Clearly there is a need for a rail users association for this line and the branch is planning to help set one up.

Future MeetingSaturday 23 November 1996, The Fielden Room, Blackburn Central Library. Meeting starts at 1100, all are welcome!

And Finally . . . The strategically important, though grossly under-utilised, line between Ashton Moss Junction and Denton Junction in East Manchester is to be closed for nine months to ease the work of the contractor constructing the final link of Manchester's orbital motorway. I look forward to the day when we start closing roads for the construction of rail lines!

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